Open Mesh Floors

[robmort]

This is what the respected Wally Shaw said and he would know:
"The bees seem to be exceptionally healthy and productive under the conditions that OMF`s provide and, even if Varroa were to become extinct tomorrow, I would not dream of returning to solid floors"

 

[ericbeaumont]

Non-starter, Nigel: reckon poly hive manufacturers are just as likely to follow the herd blindly and sell OMFs, as do so for any other reason.

Thanks for the reminder to check Murray's Twitter, Steve. Seems that the reason he went for 30% mesh was a way to use a stock of solid floors made sometime previously, but which had been damaged by warping. He took out the warped section and fitted the mesh. Good plan, but one driven by necessity rather than design.

HM: what were Br. Adam's reasons for disliking OMFs?

When is all said and done, seems that floor design remains a fruit-machine of ideas which has yet to hit the jackpot.

 

[mbc]

This is what the respected Wally Shaw said and he would know:
"The bees seem to be exceptionally healthy and productive under the conditions that OMF`s provide and, even if Varroa were to become extinct tomorrow, I would not dream of returning to solid floors"

Why would an amateur with a small number of hives not dependent on honey for a living operating in a limited area necessarily know what's best for a floor design?

 

[ericbeaumont]

This is what the respected Wally Shaw said and he would know:
"The bees seem to be exceptionally healthy and productive under the conditions that OMF`s provide and, even if Varroa were to become extinct tomorrow, I would not dream of returning to solid floors"

I agree with mbc: no matter the perceived status of a beekeeper (or companies producing equipment) we are duty bound to question methods and reasoning and conclusions, and should not accept gospel that is given.

 

[masterBK]

It might be shear co-incidence but I haven't had a single case of obvious Nosema (the photo I posted elsewhere on this forum was taken 30+ years ago) and hardly ever see chalk brood since I switched to OMF's many years ago. I believe research has shown that chalk brood spores need a certain level of carbon dioxide to germinate so maybe the extra ventilation is playing a part in this. You don't tend to get a build up of debris/dead bees on OMF's unlike solid floors saving the job of cleaning the floors in spring.

 

[Beefriendly]

and hardly ever see chalk brood since I switched to OMF's many years ago. .

Think it might be more to do with the genetics of the bees kept, than the floor. On open mesh floors my local mongrels and Amm's where (and are) all martyrs to chalk brood. Whereas I rarely, if ever, see any chalk brood with my Buckfast on open mesh floors.

 

[For want of a better word]

Think it might be more to do with the genetics of the bees kept, than the floor. On open mesh floors my local mongrels and Amm's where (and are) all martyrs to chalk brood. Whereas I rarely, if ever, see any chalk brood with my Buckfast on open mesh floors.

Noticeably my own Native Cornish Amm do not suffer with the dreaded chalk brood, but has to be said that the local hybrid/Buckfast/ Italian/Carniolian mongrells suffer badly... more so on solid floors than on OMF... and if close to flowing water!

Yeghes da

 

[blackcloud]

I'm not convinced a gaping hole just below the brood combs is a good idea. The front third of the floor is taken up by the porch, the rear four inches is solid and the sides are nearly two inches thick.

My braain hurts!
All the floors Ive obtained have full area mesh but the polynuc I have just has a central patch??
I would lean towards the less ventilation camp (hollow trees are not necessarily ventilated after all)but once the undertray is in place isn't it all closed off anyway?
I too have been led to believe the mesh was a 'varroa eliminator' but even if it's just to monitor drops then surely the full footprint area is better for this?
I'd love to make the next floor with an under entrance or some form of rob-guard at the least- I'm just unsure what route to take

 

[madasafish]

I have hives with OMFs - 4 out of 8. 2 of those 4 are underfloor entrances.
The remainder are solid floors: conventional entrances.

I leave varroa boards in October to April. When I did not, the hives without OMF were stronger in Spring. #

150 metres above sea level, in a frost pocket and the edge of the Peak District.. decidedly windy.

I see very little evidence of chalk brood nor nosems- all my hives are insulated top and sides. A mix of 4th generation carnie/buckfast/mongrel mix.

#I run my hives for honey. And queens. So an amateur with a very keen eye on costs and revenues..(a sad ex accountant!)

 

[Beefriendly]

but even if it's just to monitor drops then surely the full footprint area is better for this?

A good point.
How do those using all solids monitor their varroa levels (Alcohol/sugar roll?)??
I like my Abelo floors as the inter insulated tray effectively turns them into solid floors when you want to.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have to admit confusion. I too understood that the reason for mesh floors for the entire floor area was for mites to fall through.
E

You understood wrong - mesh floors do very little to control varroa whatever the floor area, that was just a sales pitch to get everyone on to OMF in the 1990's, the coming of varroa was just a fortuitous opportunity

 

[bobba]

I read a paper evaluating the effectiveness of mesh floors vs varroa. The paper concluded that it results in approximately a 14% decrease in verroa population.

However, it is worth noting that this is not a statistically significant reduction in verroa population. So OMF used alone to combat verroa will have little effect. It is said they should be used as part of an “integrated pest management system”.

I have also encountered information that questions the accuracy and therefore usefulness of drop counts. Apparently, ether rolls should be used to give a more useful and meaningful mite count.

So, don’t let verroa be the only factor when choosing open or solid floors.

I am in my first year of bee keeping so can offer no experience. The information I have provided is just regurgitated from various studied I have read.

I am using mesh because that’s what the guy I got my bees from uses and it works for him.

 

[Finman]

Tupla

 

[Finman]

.
Varroa load grows 100% in a month. Mesh floor does not help.

When you use a treatment, reduction must be about 95%.

1000 mites and 5% = 50 mites alive after treatment.